Wildcats, Lady ’Cats host Bearden in home-opener

Less than a week ago, more than half of the Oak Ridge High School varsity basketball players who suited up for the Wildcats’ season-opener against visiting Bearden on Tuesday night were on the football field rather than the basketball court.

Comment

By Darrell Richardson/The Oak Ridger

Oakridger - Oak Ridge, TN

By Darrell Richardson/The Oak Ridger

Posted Nov. 15, 2013 at 5:02 PM

By Darrell Richardson/The Oak Ridger
Posted Nov. 15, 2013 at 5:02 PM

Less than a week ago, more than half of the Oak Ridge High School varsity basketball players who suited up for the Wildcats’ season-opener against visiting Bearden on Tuesday night were on the football field rather than the basketball court.

Subsequently, seven of the 13 ORHS players who dressed out for the Nov. 12 game only got in one practice before facing a formidable Bulldogs team whose strategy included substituting a number of its players in almost dizzying succession.

Tuesday’s was a fast-paced, hot-shooting matchup that resulted in a Wildcat lead of 22-11 at the end of the first period and a 35-27 home team lead at the half — with an enthusiastic crowd and coaching staff cheering on and challenging the Oak Ridge players.

With 5:34 left in Period 3, the Bulldogs had managed to cut the Wildcats’ lead to two points (35-33) and Oak Ridge called a 30-minute time out. Whatever was discussed in the huddle seemed to hit home as the ’Cats went on a run of a dozen unanswered points before drawing the foul at the third period’s 2:13 mark, with Bearden making it a 47-36 ball game.

Up 52-43 at the end of Period 3, Oak Ridge hit a three-pointer followed by a two-point basket to kick off the fourth and final period of the game.

With 3:19 to go, Oak Ridge had grown its lead to 74-55 and an aggressive and sustained “cat attack” in the remaining minutes carried the Wildcats to an impressive 82-59 finish.

“We’ve got a long way to go both defensively and offensively,” said Wildcats coach Aaron Green, while at the same time praising the effort and unselfish play of his team following Tuesday night’s game.

***

The Lady Wildcats had a tougher row to hoe Tuesday night as they got a slow start out of the gate against the visiting Lady Bulldogs of Bearden.

The home team trailed 14-2 at the end of the first period with its only two points coming at the front end of a couple of free throw opportunities.

Adding insult to injury, the Lady ’Dogs threw up a three-pointer at the beginning of Period 2 to widen their advantage to 17-2 and Bearden never really looked back.

Though the Lady Wildcats never gave up, a very capable — and very physical — Bearden team led Tuesday’s matchup 37-9 going into the locker room at halftime.

Holding on to a 53-13 lead with about four minutes left on the third period clock, Bearden began putting in its substitutes. And though Oak Ridge’s players would often work the ball methodically down the court, time and time again the Lady ’Cats allowed the ball to be stolen away or smacked away on a layup by the visiting team. The final score was 70-16.